Dr. Joan Forbes, Reader in Education at the University of Aberdeen, and Dr. Daniela Sime, Senior Lecturer in the School of Social Work and Social Policy at the University of Strathclyde, are leading a Scottish Universities Insight Institute (SUII) supported Knowledge Exchange Programme: Equality 2015 on Children and Young People's Experiences and Views of Poverty and Inequality.
The Children and Young People’s Experiences and Views of Poverty and Inequality: Policy and Practice Implications programme addresses the key issues of inequality and social exclusion of children and young people in Scotland. A global issue with international significance, ‘child poverty’ is recognised in Scottish and UK Governments’ policy as of prime importance in bringing about a fairer society. The aim of the SUII programme is to increase equality and help realise the human potential of children and young people in Scotland. This is being achieved in events and outputs that encourage broad stakeholder participation and knowledge mobilization and in particular involve young people as active citizens.
Produced by children and young people in Glasgow and Aberdeen schools supported by students from Glasgow School of Art and, in Aberdeen, Anne Valyo Drama Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen, the Programme art exhibition: The Art of Getting By: Young People Exploring Poverty was open to the public from 1st-17th May 2015 at Scotland Street Museum, Glasgow, this can be seen by clicking here: The art of getting by
The first international seminar in the programme: Children and Young People’s Unequal Outcomes in Scotland and Beyond: Research and Implications for Policy and Practice was held In Glasgow on Thursday 14th May 2015. The first two programme policy briefings were launched at this event:
Poverty and Children’s Education (Dr. Daniela Sime, Social Work and Social Policy, University of Strathclyde; Dr. Joan Forbes, School of Education, University of Aberdeen & Dr. Jennifer Lerpiniere, CELCIS, University of Strathclyde), which can be viewed here; and Poverty and Children’s Health and Wellbeing (Mark Willis, Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland; Dr. Daniela Sime, Social Work and Social Policy, University of Strathclyde; and Dr. Jennifer Lerpiniere, CELCIS, University of Strathclyde) and this can be viewed by clicking here.
The new policy briefs are available on the Scottish Universities Insight Institute website and can be viewed here.
The second international seminar in the programme: Poverty as a Human Rights Issue: Rights, Social Participation and Ways of Increasing Children’s Voice in the Debate will be held at the University of Aberdeen, School of Education on 26th June 2015. The keynote speakers at Seminar 2 in Aberdeen are: Professor Wouter Vandenhole, UNICEF Chair in Children’s Rights, University of Antwerp; Goretti Horgan, Institute for Research in Social Sciences, University of Ulster; and Professor Stephen McKinney, School of Education, University of Glasgow. Further information and the registration link for Seminar 2, Aberdeen is available here.
The final two Policy Briefs in the programme on: Poverty and Children’s Access to Services and Social Participation; and Poverty and Children’s Rights, Civic and Political Engagement will be launched at Seminar 2.
A number of local partners are involved in the programme notably including Aberdeenshire Council curriculum and inequalities group; Aberdeen City Council creative learning team; and the Montgomery Development Education Centre of Aberdeen for a Fairer World (previously Aberdeen Third World Centre).
Designed to investigate the discourses and practices that shape child poverty and dis/advantage, in/equalities and in/exclusions in contemporary society and institutions, the new Scottish Universities Insight Institute funded Knowledge Exchange Programme is the most recent of a series of outputs which contribute to the strength of the University of Aberdeen, School of Education THEORY SPACE research agenda (The Theory Space).